Actor Timothy Busfield Pleads Not Guilty in Child Sex Abuse Case

Busfield waives pre-trial appearances after being indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Timothy Busfield, the actor known for his role on The West Wing, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13). Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on February 6 for alleged incidents in October 2022 and September 2023. He has since waived his arraignment and all pre-trial court appearances, which were granted by a judge on February 18.

Why it matters

The case against Busfield raises serious allegations of child sexual abuse, which have significant legal and societal implications. The actor's decision to waive pre-trial appearances suggests a potential legal strategy, while the granting of that request by the judge indicates the case will move forward without Busfield physically present in court during the initial proceedings.

The details

Busfield was indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, all third-degree felonies related to alleged incidents in October 2022 and September 2023. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on February 10. The next day, Busfield waived his arraignment and all pre-trial court appearances, a request that was granted by Judge Joseph Montano on February 18. An initial witness list was issued on February 13, and a scheduling conference is set for March 10.

  • Busfield was indicted by a grand jury on February 6, 2026.
  • Busfield pleaded not guilty to the four counts on February 10, 2026.
  • Busfield waived his arraignment and all pre-trial court appearances on February 11, 2026.
  • Judge Joseph Montano granted Busfield's request to waive pre-trial appearances on February 18, 2026.
  • A scheduling conference is set for March 10, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

The players

Timothy Busfield

A 68-year-old actor known for his role on the TV series The West Wing, who has been indicted on four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.

Judge Joseph Montano

The judge who granted Busfield's request to waive his arraignment and all pre-trial court appearances.

Sam Bregman

The Bernalillo County District Attorney who announced Busfield's indictment.

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What they’re saying

“I did not do anything. They're all lies and I did not do anything to those little boys and I'm gonna fight it. I'm gonna fight it with a great team, and I'm gonna be exonerated, I know I am, because this is all so wrong and all lies.”

— Timothy Busfield (TMZ)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on March 10 whether to allow Busfield to continue waiving his pre-trial court appearances.

The takeaway

The allegations against Timothy Busfield are extremely serious, and his decision to waive pre-trial appearances suggests a potential legal strategy. However, the granting of this request by the judge indicates the case will move forward without Busfield physically present in court during the initial proceedings, raising questions about transparency and access to justice.